According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “iconic” in its contemporary environment should be used as follows:
“Designating a person or thing regarded as representative of a culture or movement; important or influential in a particular (cultural) context”
Sadly, however, the word is thrown around a little too liberally and this can remove some of the shine from those people and things that really warrant the term.
With this in mind, we decided we would try to separate some of the wheat from the chaff.
Perhaps not all of the figures in our list will be unanimously adored or even respected, but they are all important and enduring in some way. Put crudely, they all matter.
Well, that’s about all the introduction they need. So without further ado, here they are:
1.) The author of the globally-adored Harry Potter series and one of the wealthiest private citizens in Britain, surely no muggle could dispute JK Rowling’s position on this list.
2.) Without Sir Ian Mckellen CBE CH, The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit franchises just wouldn’t be the same, and neither would London’s theatre scene.
3.) Thanks to his memorable roles as Charles Xavier and Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Sir Patrick Stewart OBE is as much a favourite with all the Trekkies and comic book fans out there as he is with London and Broadway theatregoers.
4.) Not so long ago, Russell Brand was a celebrity icon of cinema and stand up comedy, but then he suddenly transformed into an outspoken political activist and voice of protest.
5.) Temperamental Welshman Christian Bale doesn’t always get the best press for his off screen antics, but the face of the brilliantly reinvented Batman franchise more than makes up for it on screen.
6.) Following award winning performances in West End theatre, Benedict Cumberbatch has gone on to play the likes of Julian Assange and Sherlock Holmes, and his star doesn’t look set to stop its ascent any time soon.
7.) Sir Paul Smith CBE is the designer behind the most instantly recognisable stripes in fashion.
8.) Danny Boyle was rewarded with the Academy Award for Best Director for Slumdog Millionaire in 2008 and more recently put together the spectacular opening ceremony at the London 2012 olympics.
9.) Jamie Oliver MBE is the superstar TV chef and restaurateur on a mission to rid our schools of processed foods and raise awareness around healthy eating.
10.) Known as “the food scientist”, Heston Blumenthal OBE’s three Michelin starred restaurant The Fat Duck has been named the best in the world on more than one occasion.
11.) Cara Delevingne has replaced Kate Moss as the most recognisable Brit in modelling. Those eyebrows…
12.) University Challenge presenter Jeremy Paxman’s abrasive, no-nonsense approach to interviewing makes him every bumbling politician’s worst nightmare.
13.) Dame Vivienne Westwood DBE RDI is the designer who combined the edge of the punk scene with high end fashion.
14.) Stella Mccartney CBE created her first jacket at the age of 13 and has become a leading ethical fashion designer (we like that at Urban Times), refusing to use any leather or fur in her clothes.
15.) Never shy of controversy during a 25-year career, Kate Moss’s outstanding contribution to her trade was recognised at the 2013 British Fashion Awards.
16.) Colin Firth CBE has been a stalwart of British cinema for decades and won an Oscar for his portrayal of Prince Albert, but for the middle-aged women out there he will always be remembered as Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.
17.) Musician and producer Mark Ronson has his name on a lot of the best music to have come out of England in recent years, including most of the late Amy Winehouse’s best offerings.
18.) Leading man Idris Elba has been at the forefront of what has been dubbed the “Black British Invasion” of Hollywood, thanks largely to his role as one of the most iconic world figures of all time, Nelson Mandela.
19.) The epithet “national treasure” could find few more deserving recipients than Sir David Attenborough CBE CFC GMC WWF JVC JJB DUI ABC TNT HSBC; watching a wildlife documentary narrated by anyone else is just plain WRONG!
20.) Chiwetel Ejiofor OBE was mesmerising as the lead role in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave, surely the most important film on slavery to date.
21.) Queen Elizabeth II . . . ‘Nuff said
22.) Brian Cox OBE had some fame as keyboard player in 90’s pop band D:Ream, but I suppose his research into high energy physics and astronomy has been equally important.
23.)The knee high socks, the nose clip and, of course, those insane world records, all make Paula Radcliffe iconic. The current women’s record holder for the marathon.
24.) Ewan McGregor has been Obi Wan Kenobi and Mark Renton and has also received critical acclaim for his accomplishments in theatre.
25.) From London’s Gherkin to New York’s Hurst tower, Norman Foster’s high tech architecture is up there with the world’s most instantly recognisable.
26.) Love or loathe Naomi Campbell for her controversial statements and diva-ish antics, there is little refuting her status as one of the most iconic models of all time.
27.) A few years back Eddie Izzard decided to take a break from a long and illustrious comedic career and ran 43 marathons in 51 days, raising more than £200,000 for Sport Relief.
29.) Sir Chris Hoy MBE is the most successful Olympic cyclist of all time and has recently announced that he’ll be turning his hand to motor racing, joining the British GT championship.
30.) It sometimes feels like former Blackadder great Stephen Fry has been on our screens as long as Sir David Attenborough and he continues to boast a similar level of popularity, which he has used in recent years to raise awareness of mental illness in the UK.
31.) Richard Dawkins DSC FRS FRSL has made massive contributions to the study of evolutionary biology and genetics, earning the title of “Darwin’s Rottweiler”. Dawkins became the face of “New Atheism” after publishing The God Delusion in 2006.
32.) Sir Anthony Hopkins CBE is arguably one of the greatest actors of all time, and somehow manages to emerge with his artistic integrity intact even from Hollywood tripe such as Thor and Troy.
33.) East London native Dizzee Rascal went from a troubled childhood to becoming the UK’s first rap superstar, picking up a Mercury prize in 2003 and breaking the US scene.
34.) Sir Mick Jagger is the legendary frontman of the Rolling Stones who defined an era of Rock and Roll and continues touring and wearing very tight pants at the age of 70.
35.) Simon Cowell is the trash television talent show judge known for his forthright and blunt criticisms who has amassed a fortune from the modern music industry’s most shameful product, The X-Factor.
36.) Sacha Baron Cohen gave us two of the most impersonated comedic personas of the last decade: Borat and Ali G . . . Booyakasha!
37.) Keith Richards was one of the greatest guitarists of all time with the Rolling Stones; not one for mediocrity, he has also had a reputation as one of the UK’s best drinkers and drug-takers.
38.) We’ve all sought the medical advice from Dr. Gregory House via Netflix, but Hugh Laurie OBE is a multifaceted man, moonlighting as a comedian and musician. He’s also been named the “most watched leading man on television,” by Guinness World Records.
39.) It’s taken Christopher Nolan just a little over a decade to go from relative unknown to one Hollywood’s biggest and best directors, with the likes of Inception, the latest Batman franchise and Memento among his credits.
40.) In his 50 year career Sir Elton John CBE has sold more than 300 million records and has had more than 50 top 40 hits. The numbers speak for themselves.
41.) Sir Paul McCartney MBE is the only member of The Beatles still alive today (Ringo Starr doesn’t count); his subsequent solo career would probably be enough to see him on this list even without the Beatles connection.
42.) Sir Robert Charlton CBE was one of the best footballers of all time and a key figure in the England starting XI that won the FIFA World Cup in 1966, also winning the Ballon d’Or for most goals in that tournament.
43.) Sir Richard Branson is best known for the Virgin Group, comprising more than 400 companies; he’s also set a few world records and had his fair share of Hollywood appearances over the years, usually playing . . . well . . . himself.
44.) There is no chance of leaving The Royals (particularly Charles, William and Harry) off this list; however much it be facilitated by their status, their humanitarian contribution can’t be underestimated, and nor can the amount of tourism they pull in.
45.) Dame Helen Mirren DBE is one of our best-loved actresses and has even played The Queen herself; she’s also long been considered the UK’s sexiest grandmother.
46.) The man behind The Golden Calf, Damien Hirst is said to be the richest living UK artist; in 2008 he broke the record for an auction by a single artist, grossing £111 million in one day.
47.) The former Eurythmics lead singer Annie Lennox was voted as one of Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Singers of All Time and has achieved a similar level of admiration for her tireless humanitarian work.
49.) Banksy is the only name on the list that we can’t put a face to! Possibly one of the world’s best-known street artists, he uses his paint as a tool for political activism, tackling issues including Guantanamo Bay, homelessness and surveillance.
50.) Sir Alex Ferguson CBE is one of the most respected and successful football managers of all time, helping Manchester United to have more supporters across the globe than any other football club.
51.) Even if the tumultuous relationship between Noel Gallagher and his brother Liam has soured Oasis’ legacy somewhat, the former’s pivotal role in the rise of Britpop has been undeniable.
52.) David Bowie‘s 24th album won him the award for Best Male Artist at this year’s Brit Awards. A fashion and on screen icon as well as a musical one, Bowie is also one of few musicians around today with something interesting to say about politics and societal issues.
53.) Thom Yorke is often cited as one of Britain’s greatest musicians of all time, and 23 years on from the release of Radiohead’s first album, he still has plenty to say.
54.) Stephen Hawking CH CBE FRS FRSA is among the most significant scientists that England has ever produced, and that’s some pretty prestigious company to be keeping. His book A Brief History of Time was on the Sunday Times bestseller list for a record-breaking 237 weeks.
55.) Tom Hardy has burst onto the Hollywood scene in the last few years, taking on an array of tough-as-nails roles that make Thor look like a big wet blanket, including the brilliant Baine in The Dark Night Rises.
56.) Emma Thompson is more than a magical nanny, she is hailed as one of the greatest British actresses of her generation. Thompson has won multiple acting awards, including an Academy Award and a BAFTA.
57.) Helena Bonham-Carter CBE is a two-time Academy Award nominee and BAFTA award winner, and let’s be honest, without her a lot of Tim Burton’s movies would be a little bit crap.
58.) Rowan Atkinson CBE gave British comedy two of its most celebrated individuals, Mr Bean and Blackadder, and pops up in pretty much every comedy film that comes out of the UK.
59.) With a writing career that has spanned six decades, every one of Jackie Collins’s 29 novels have appeared on the New York Times bestsellers list.
60.) Sir Trevor McDonald OBE was ITN’s first ever black journalist and has gone on to win more awards than any other British broadcaster.
61.) Over the course of Dame Judi Dench CH DBE FRSA‘s illustrious career, which includes her brilliant turn as M in recent instalments of James Bond, she has taken home an amazing 11 BAFTAS, two Golden Globes, two Screen Actors’ Guild Awards, an Academy Award and a Tony Award.
62.) Whether interpreting Shakespeare or casting a spell on Harry Potter, Ralph Fiennes is undoubtedly a popular powerhouse of an actor; he has also tried his hand at directing and is an avid philanthropist.
63.) Over the last few decades Gary Oldman has worked with pretty much any Hollywood director worth knowing. Tom Hardy has said of Oldman that he is “hands down the greatest actor that ever lived”.
64.) From Blur to Gorillaz, multi-talented Damon Albarn has reinvented himself, and the British music scene itself, time and time again.
65.) With her history of A-list boyfriends and status as a top style icon, many might forget that Sienna Miller has also been nominated for two BAFTAs and one Golden Globe.
66.) Young diver Tom Daley got the whole nation behind him at the London Olympics, and his subsequent “coming out” has paved the way for other gay athletes and sports figures.
67.) From Titanic to The Reader, Kate Winslet CBE has proved she’s not just a commercial success but a truly brilliant actress praised by critics. She is the youngest actress to acquire six Academy Award nominations.
68.) Jude Law is more than a Hollywood heartthrob with a few fidelity indiscretions, he is respected for his roles both on screen and on the stage and has been around a lot longer than you might think.
69.) Top UK business magnate and former Tottenham Hotspur Chairman Lord Alan Sugar is best-known for his deadpan appearances on The Apprentice.
70.) Though Sean Bean gets killed off in pretty much everything he ever shows up in, he sure knows how to make sure his deaths are always memorable.
71.) Pull out your best English accent stateside, and you can bet your bottom dollar that someone will tell you: “Oh my God, you sound just like Hugh Grant!”
72.) John Cleese is best remembered for Monty Python and Fawlty Towers, and has had a resurgence of late, both as a stand up and in movies such as Spud.
73.) Michael Palin CBE FRGS first made a name for himself as a member of Monty Python but has since become one of our best-loved travel writers and documentarians.
74.) Another former member of Monty Python, Terry Gilliam’s subsequent career as a director has included credits such as Brazil, Twelve Monkeys and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.
75.) Mixed race author Zadie Smith FRSL has twice been voted one of Granta’s 20 best young British novelists; if that wasn’t enough, she’s “broken” into the US and has also become one of our most prominent literary critics.
76.) Bill Nighy delivers a cold sinister stare like nobody else. Nighy has played some of the most memorable villains in modern cinema, and is also a British romcom favourite.
77.) Not many novelists can claim to have had a fatwa against them, but Salman Rushdie can; he is also a previous Booker and The Best of Booker winner, not to mention a leading voice on race and identity in the UK.
78.) Mo Farah CBE was one of team GB’s most prominent heroes at the 2012 Olympics, taking Gold in both the 5,000 and 10,000 metres. He also heads a foundation providing aid in East Africa.
79.) Sir Sean Connery and his silky one liners are as synonomous with the much-loved James Bond franchise as the original author Ian Fleming; still and always the best 007.
80.) Daniel Day-Lewis seems to pick up an Oscar nomination every time he decides to appear on screen and was surely the only living actor who could have played the great Abraham Lincoln.
81.) Sir Michael Caine CBE has had a stellar career on the big screen that started with Zulu in 1964 and leads all the way up to his portrayal of Alfred in the recent Batman franchise. “You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!”
82.) Director and CBE Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave scooped Best Picture at this years Oscars, the first ever film by a Black director to win the award.
83.) Formerly known as Cat Stevens, Yusuf Islam is the father of some of the greatest and most covered pop songs of all time – no, Father and Son was not a Boyzone original.
84.) Now at ITN, Jon Snow is still Channel 4 News’ longest-serving presenter and is as well known for his garish ties as for his incredibly extensive CV as a journalist.
85.) Adele MBE is the first female in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 to have had three singles in the top 10 at the same time. What a voice!
86.) Chris Martin is the founding member of Coldplay, a band that have had an undeniably huge impact on 21st century (sort of) rock and break up music.
87.) Andy Murray OBE might not be the most inspiring public speaker in the world, but he’s not a bad tennis player; the first British male to win Wimbledon since 1936.
88.) The current Olympic heptathlon champion, Jessica Ennis CBE has already amassed a staggering collection of world, European and Olympic titles over her relatively fledgling career
89.) Michael Parkinson CBE, or ‘Parky’ as he is affectionately known, interviewed most of the world’s biggest celebrities for more than 20 years, and always in his inimitably affable style.
90.) Not many politicians polarize opinion and court controversy like Tony Blair, but he was undoubtedly a core figure in the birth of New Labour
91.) Jennifer Saunders is a three time BAFTA-winning comedian most famous for her collaborations with fellow iconic Brit, Dawn French.
92.) More than 13 years in a lead role in the Vicar of Dibley and her work with Jennifer Saunders have made Dawn French one of Britain’s best loved comedians.
93.) David Beckham OBE may not have been Britain’s greatest footballer of all time, but he is the most lucrative and surely – even now – the most famous.
94.) The legendary axeman behind Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page OBE is consistently listed amongst the greatest guitarists who ever lived.
95.) The tousled hair, the “Boris Bikes”, the Olympics, the buffoonery and the boyish charm – love him or loathe him , Mayor of London Boris Johnson certainly adds a bit of much needed colour to British politics.
96.) Former Ab Fab favourite Joanna Lumley OBE FRGS has had a resurgence of late, with a great cameo in Scorsese’s Wolf of Wall Street; meanwhile she continues to be a passionate human rights advocate and activist and a favourite in Nepal.
97.) Kelly Holmes DBE MBE picked up two Olympic golds in Sydney 2004 and still holds the British records over 600, 800, 1,000 and 1,500 metre distances.
98.) The hills are alive whenever Dame Julie Andrews DBE takes the stage. Whether on Broadway or on screen she is an enduring national treasure.
99.) Fashion designer, model and businesswoman Victoria Beckham first became a household name with iconic girl band Spice Girls . . . getting married to David Beckham didn’t hurt either.
100.) Ricky Gervais might be the smuggest comedian in the world, but The Office alone makes him worthy of this list.
101.) Some might try to deny it, but get a couple of drinks down their neck and everyone loves a bit of Phil Collins. Also a Disney soundtrack stalwart.
102.) Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE is an iconic adventurer, voted the Guinness Book of Records’ greatest ever explorer; he is also a prolific writer.
103.) Ellen Macarthur is famous for breaking the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe in 2005, a massive 50,660km in a casual 71 days, 14 hours, 18 minutes and 33 seconds!
104.) Joan Collins is the Londoner who took Hollywood by storm at the tender age of 22 and more recently has embarked on a successful career as a novelist.
105.) Novelist and actress Julie Walters CBE is perhaps best known for her portrayal of the greatest Mum in the history of children’s fiction, Molly Weasly, but that is just one of her many iconic roles.
106.) Sir Steven Redgrave CBE DL; The champion rower who took gold at 5 successive Olympic games. Britains greatest ever Olympian?
107.) Born with synesthesia, meaning he sees colours in response to musical stimuli, David Hockney has made an outstanding contribution to British art and theatre.
108.) Perhaps the most instantly recognisable voice in British music, Morrissey remains an icon of rock music and counterculture.
109.) Despite some rather bizarre brushes with the law of late, George Michael has had an impressive career in music and has worked tirelessly for numerous charitable causes.
110.) Kate Middleton: pretty + sweet + stylish + married to a prince = instant iconic status.
111.) From her mod bob to her long eyelashes, Twiggy was the face of the 1960s and the world’s first supermodel.
112.) Best known for Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh‘s novels and plays have powerfully mirrored a grim side of Edinburgh life.
113.) Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas, capped 100 times for his country, became the first openly gay professional rugby player when he came out in 2009.
114.) From porn stars to nazis and swingers to the Westboro Baptist Church, no one has done a better job of exposing some of the world’s wackiest people than Louis Theroux.
115.) Carol Ann Duffy was the first woman, the first Scot, and the first gay person to be appointed as Britain’s poet laureate.
116.) Shaun Meadows makes the list for his contribution to outstanding British zeitgeist films, particularly his masterpiece This Is England.
117.) Guy Ritchie‘s early films Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch remain two of the most widely referenced British films ever made. Please, nobody mention Revolver. Everybody makes mistakes.
119.) Despite never apologising for his disgusting racist rant, we grudgingly include Eric Clapton for his mesmeric musical talents and contribution.
120.) Baroness Doreen Lawrence fought tirelessly for justice after the racially-motivated murder of her son Stephen and the inadequate handling of the case by the police, bringing about significant reforms in the department. She is now being tipped as the potential labour candidate at the next Mayoral Elections.
121.) Roles as the long suffering Watson and, come to think of it, the long suffering Bilbo Baggins, make Martin Freeman worthy of inclusion.
122.) The cross-dressing ceramic artist Greyson Perry was awarded the Turner Prize in 2002. Or was that his female alter-ego “Claire”?
123.) Andrew Lloyd Webber is perhaps Britain’s greatest ever composer and his musicals have become mainstays of both the West End and Broadway.
124.) Sir Ben Kingsley CBE is a Hollywood Walk of Famer who won an Academy Award for his outstanding portrayal of none other than Mohandas Ghandi and was the best thing thing about Iron Man III.
125.) It’s not unusual that Welsh crooner Sir Tom Jones OBE is on this list after having 36 Top 40 hits in the UK and selling over 100 million records.
Did we miss anyone that deserves their place? Leave a comment below.